It is a frightening and emotional experience to have your children taken away from you. In these cases, you need compassionate guidance to help you navigate the juvenile dependency process and get your children back.
At the Orange County Law Offices of David P. Schwarz, we will make sure your rights are protected throughout the dependency process. Our attorneys can help you understand your options, guide you through the process and fight to reunite your family.
Get the legal help you need. To learn more about the juvenile dependency process in California, call us at 714-361-9875, toll free at 877-387-7112 or contact our Orange County juvenile dependency lawyers online.
Steps in the Dependency Process
It is important to have an attorney with experience handling these types of cases to represent you at every stage. If you try to handle your dependency case on your own, you risk permanently losing your child and potential criminal charges for abuse or neglect.
Our attorneys can walk you through every step in the process:
- Petition — First, a petition will be filed under the California Welfare and Institutions Code stating that your child is receiving improper treatment under your care. This petition starts off the process and may lead to your child being removed from your home and placed into foster care.
- Detention hearing — During this first hearing, the court will determine whether the government has sufficient evidence to remove the child temporarily from your care. We can fight for you at this hearing to get your children back and keep them out of foster care. Even if you do not get your children back at this time, we can help you work to have the child placed in the care of a family member.
- Jurisdictional and disposition hearings — During this hearing, the court will determine whether you have violated the California Welfare and Institutions code. Our attorneys can help you fight the violation so you can keep accusations of abuse or neglect off your record. It is also critical to have an attorney represent you at this stage to prevent potential criminal charges from being filed against you.
- Dispositional setting — At this time, family reunification services are given. Then, the child is either returned to his or her family or remains in the custody of the county.
- Reunification or case plan — A caseworker from the Department of Social Services will determine what you need to do in order to regain custody of your child. This could include drug treatment, counseling, anger management or visitation arrangements. It is important for you to complete every part of the reunification plan so that you can get your child back.
- Review hearings — There are three review hearings at six months, 12 months and 18 months. After the 18-month review hearing, if you still have not demonstrated that you are fit to care for your child, he or she could end up in long-term foster care, in a long-term guardianship or be adopted. We can help you prepare for each review hearing and fight to reunite your family.
Contact an Orange County Department of Social Services Attorney
The juvenile dependency process is complicated and can be confusing to parents. We can help you through the process and help you understand what steps you need to take to get your child back. Contact our California dependency attorneys online, call us at 714-361-9875 or call us toll free at 877-387-7112 to discuss your case.
